Another clean-up success story at Mahim Causeway

BMC removes truckloads of construction debris and tonnes of garbage to unearth mangroves; plans viewing gallery for citizens and a pathway connecting to Bandra Reclamation promenade.

Think Mahim Causeway and you will most likely conjure up images of heaps of garbage, construction debris and remnants of demolished shanties that once lined the seafront. Visit the spot again today and chances are you won’t recognise it.

In the past 30 days, the BMC has removed 225 trucks of debris, 70 tonnes of garbage, three tonnes of plastic and over one tonne of packaging material from the Causeway, in a bid to transform and beautify this vital stretch of the city linking south Mumbai with its northern suburbs. In past one month, the civic body has also demolished eight illegal structures on the seafront.

Now that the waterfront bears a clean look, the BMC’s plan is to construct a viewing gallery from where one can get a view of Mahim creek and the mouth of Mithi River.

BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi visited the creek on July 12 and expressed shock over the erstwhile pristine shore turning into a dumping ground. He ordered immediate clean-up, following which the BMC roped in the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and the Forest Department to uncover mangroves that had got buried under debris and garbage.

Last week, a joint meeting of mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Pardeshi and senior officials from the BMC and the MSRDC was convened to discuss the progress of work. BMC officials said the meeting was coordinated and attended by Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, as the work involved developing the area around Bandra Reclamation as well. They said Aaditya had earlier pitched a plan for a pedestrian pathway from Mahim Causeway to Siddhivinayak temple. In inner circles, the BMC calls this plan the city’s ‘cultural spine’, as there are several religious places and Shivaji Park along the pathway.

After the meeting, Aaditya tweeted: “...a joint meet between BMC G-North, H-West & MSRDC for a connector piece of footpath that connects Mahim Causeway to Sea Link. Furthermore, a viewing gallery to beautify the Mahim Causeway.”

“We deployed 30 workers at Mahim Causeway to remove debris and garbage that was lying there for over 10 years. There were close to 10 tonnes of soiled clothes and rags that had completely covered the mangroves,” said Sharad Ughade, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, H-West ward. He said that the BMC will now connect the Causeway to the Bandra Reclamation promenade through a footpath. “We are filling up the space with soil and will soon carry out a planation drive. The stretch will also include a jogging track and will be illuminated,” he told Mirror.

Ughade confirmed that the BMC also has “a detailed plan” for planting over 1,000 mangroves at the mouth of Mithi River at the Causeway. “Once ready, we are sure the promenade will become an attraction for citizens,” said Ughade.

BMC removed 70 tonnes of garbage, three tonnes of plastic and one tonne of packaging material